Like many countries around the globe, Mexico has a hidden population of illegal immigrants. But in contrast with the way the United States has perpetually postponed implementing a system to cope with millions of undocumented foreigners, the Mexican government has launched a temporary amnesty program that will allow many reverse wet-backs to come out of the shadows.

Expats in Mexico may take comfort from the fact researchers estimate that just seven percent of human communication is verbal. Tone of voice, facial expressions, posture and gestures account for the rest. While mastering Spanish requires hours of study, becoming fluent in hand signals is a whole lot easier. What’s more, it may prove just as useful.